Avs Host Wild In Final Home Preseason Contest

It is the second and final exhibition meeting with Minnesota

DENVER- The Colorado Avalanche is looking to turn a 3-0-0 record into a 4-0-0 record on Tuesday night as it takes on the Minnesota Wild at 7 p.m. at Pepsi Center.

The game is the fourth of Colorado's six exhibition contests, and the Avs are looking to carry the energy from their previous wins into the match.

Tuesday's tilt marks the second meeting between the Wild and the Avalanche this preseason and the first at Pepsi Center. It is also Colorado's third and final home exhibition contest. In the last matchup between the Central Division rivals, the Avs brought home a 4-1 win over the Wild, giving them their first victory of preseason.

Colorado had its full roster together for the first time at practice on Monday, as Matt Duchene was the last player to return to the club after winning the World Cup of Hockey with Team Canada.

"Those winning experiences, you learn a lot," Duchene said when asked about the tournament. "We have had enough losing here in Colorado, I've learned that side of it. Now it's time to win here too."

Although Duchene won't play in Tuesday's contest, two other recently returned Avalanche forwards will. Gabriel Landeskog and Carl Soderberg will both be making their preseason debuts when the puck drops against Minnesota.

Having spent the last month playing at a high level of competition, both are expected to pick up where they left off-much like Nathan MacKinnon did.

The 21-year-old forward had no problem finding his grove and fitting in with the Avs upon his arrival. He scored the first goal against the Kings on Friday, giving his team an important lead.

Center Mikhail Grigorenko notched two goals in the win as well. He leads the Avalanche and is ranked second in the NHL (tied) with three goals in two games.

The Avs have outscored their opponents 11-4 and have a perfect 14-for-14 record on the penalty kill.

Semyon Varlamov will get his second consecutive start in net.

The Wild is 2-2 in preseason play, with losses to Colorado and Winnipeg.